Luggage case and valance therefor



June 2, 1964 S. J. HOLTZMAN LUGGAGE CASE AND VALANCE THEREFOR Filed July 1l, 1962 gwma INVENTOR. SAMUEL. J. HOLTZMAN BY 5 l ATTRNEY United States Patent; Oi

y Patented ,June 2, 1964 ice 3,135,366 LUGGAGE CASE AND VALANCE THEREFOR Samuel J. Holtzman, 8201 Symphony Drive, Baltimore r8, Md. Filed .iuly l1, 1962, Ser. No. 209,023 Claims. (Cl. 19u-41) The invention relates to luggage cases and is more pari ticularly directed to improvements in Valances for luggage cases of the exible wall type.

It is well known to provide a load-bearing metal val- .ance along the peripheral edge of each of the pair of luggage case sections which are made of a comparatively rigid material, such as molded hard plastic or of a lightweight metal. In luggage cases of this type, the valance strips are secured to the substantially rigid case sections by rivets or the like. It is highly desirable to provide luggage of the type wherein the case sections are made at least in part of a flexible material, such as leather, plastic sheet material, coated fabric, or the like. In luggage of the flexible Wall type, fit is particularly desirable to provide a metal Valance along the peripheral edge of each case section to thereby provide a stii or rigid load-bearing element for the otherwise soft or exible case. Further, it is desirable, for reasons of appearance and quality, to sew or stitch, the metal Valance to the flexible material constituting the case section.

Sewing a metal valence to the flexible or fabric-like material presents a number of problems. When the awl or punch-like needle of the sewing machine passes through the Valance which is made of aluminum or magnesium alloy, burrs or sharp, ragged edges are raised on the underside of the metal strip, or that side opposite the side through which the sewing machines awl or punchlike needle enters the strip. As a result, when a lining for a luggage case is positioned across the sewn area on the underside of the strip, the sharp edges of metal surrounding the openings through which the sewn threads extend, prevent smooth, planar adherence of the lining to the strip. In fact, the burrs so formed in sewing act to fray and rupture the lining material, in addition to presenting sharp edges which may scratch or cut the user of the luggage. Furthermore, the application of pressure by any extraneous means, such as the contents of the luggage case, against the exposed portion of the sewn thread acts to abrade thethread on the underside thereof, where it engages the raised sharp edges, thereby causing a break or breaks in the line of stitching.

` The primary object of the invention is to provide a Valance having a construction which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages.

Another'object of the invention is to provide a valance having a predetermined area to receive a line of stitching, such area serving to recessgor conceal the burrs raised in sewing, and to furnish a section of the valance which reduces the force required of the elements of the sewing machine to accomplish the sewn connection of the valvance to the ilexible material of the luggage case.

These, and otherobjects andV advantages of the invention willV be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. l is a perspective View of a luggage case including a valance madeV in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken approximately in the plane of line 2-2 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a View looking toward the underside of FIG. 2.

A Valance made in accordance with the invention comprises a metal strip having a front portion adapted for engagement with the front portion of a second valance or strip. The valance has a rearwardly extending web portion adapted to receive on the top surface thereof a portion of the flexible material of the case section. On the underside of the web portion, across which a lining is adapted to be placed, a longitudinally extending groove is provided to furnish an area of reduced thickness. The grooved area of the web portion is adapted to receive a line of stitching to connect the strip to the flexible material of the case section. Thegroove is of a depth so that the burrs raised in sewing lie below the plane of the adjoining or unrecessed portion of the web.

In greater detail, and referring t0 FIG. l, a luggage case and a valance therefor made in accordance with the invention comprises a pair of opposed case sections A and B. The top, bottom, side and end walls of each case section are made of a flexible, readily sewable material such as leather, plastic sheet material, coated textile fabric or the like. The walls of each case section are assembled in a manner well known in the art, as by sewing the edges of the side wall panel 10 to the edge of a width of material which furnishes the top wall 12, the end walls 14 and the bottom wall (not shown).

In the form of the invention illustrated, a male valance a is provided along the peripheral edge of the top, end and bottom Walls of the case section A, and a female Valance b is provided along the peripheral edge of the top, end and bottoni walls of the case section B. The Valances are preferably made by extruding a suitable aluminum alloy and bending the extruded section to conform with the substantially rectangular contour provided by the edge of the case section to which the valance is to be attached by sewing. The case sections A and'B are hinged to one another along the adjoining edges of the Valances at the bottom of the case in a manner well known in the art after the Valances areconnected to the iiexible material 12 constituting the top, side and bottom panels of each case section. l

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the valance a is provided with a front or nose portion 16 adapted to be received in a channel 18 of the valance b. The valance a has an integral rearwardly extending web portion 20 on the underside of which a longitudinally extending groove 22 is provided. The valance .has an upstanding rib 24 located near its front end which, together with the ribs wall 26 and the top surface 28 of the web portion, provide` a recess dimensioned to a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the exible case sectionmaterial 12.

The female Valance b is formed with a depending flange 30 and a forwardly extending flange 32 at the end thereof to provide the aforesaid channel 18. The valance has a top band portion 34, the upper surface of which 36 is exposed when the case is in its closed position. The surface 36 may be provided with any'desired decorative eifect or it may be left smooth or plain. The bandl 34 terminates at its rear in adownwardly extending step 38 which, together with the top surface 40 of the rearwardly extendingrweb portion 42Yprovides a recess of a depth substantially equal to the thickness ofthe flexible case section material 12. If desired, a substantially parallel depending flange 44 may be provided rearwardly of and inA spaced relation to the ilange 30, as shown. The underside of the web portion 42 is provided with a longitudinal extending groove 46. f

With the iiexible material 12 of the case sectionsv positioned in the recesses on the top surfaces of the Valances.- web portions 20 and 42, the exible material'is sewn to the respective Valances at the areas of reduced thickness provided by the longitudinally extending grooves 22 and 46. A sewing machine of the kind commonly used for sewing luggage leather is used, an example being a machine made by Puritan Manufacturing Company of Boston, Massachusetts. A sewing machine of this wellknown type utilizes an awl in conjunction with the sewing needle. A chain or lock stitch may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the line of stitching 50 connecting each of the valance strips to the flexible case sections material results in burrs 52 being raised on the underside of the valances web portion by the passage of the awl or punch-like needle in carrying the sewing thread through the materials being connected by the sewing operation. The depth of each of the grooves 22 and 46 is selected so that the raised ragged edges thus formed in sewing do not exceed the depth of the groove. As a result, when a lining 54 is secured or adhered to the inner side of the leather or the like exible material 12 and is extended over the Valances web portions 20 and 42 to furnish a neat, clean appearance, the burrs 52 are recessed in the; grooves 22 and 46 so as not to interfere with the smooth adherance of the lining, or to permit damage thereto. Also, the ragged edges provided by the burrs are located where they cannot accidently damage the user of the luggage.

The provision of the longitudinally extending groove in the web portion of the valance as described, furnishes a thinner section at the area where the line of stitching is made, thereby facilitating sewing, while the areas of the web portion adjoining the groove provide a heavier crosssection for structural strength. For example, when the valance strips are extruded of -a suitable aluminum alloy, the thickness of the web portion at the grooved area may be approximately 0.031 inch, with the immediately adjoining or ungrooved portion 0.080 inch. Thus, the awl or punch-like needle of the sewing machine need only operate upon a comparatively thin section of metal, While the remainder of the valances web portion has substantial thickness to aord desired structural strength.

Although in the preferred form of the invention illustrated and described, the Valance strips are in the form of male and female elements and of a particular configuration, it will be understood that any desired cross-section may be provided for the front or engaging portions of the strips, it being only necessary that the strips cooperate with one another to furnish a neat, exposed edge when the case sections are closed. The case, of course, is provided withv the usual handle 56 and locks 58 of any desired construction. Also, the abutting edges of each valance are suitably bridged on the underside of each case section by a plate or other form of connecting means as is common in the art.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results afforded by the described valance and a luggage case made with such Valance will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Avalance for a luggage case formed of opposed case sections of flexible, sewable material, said valance comprising a metal strip having a front portion adapted for engagement with the front portion of a second metal strip and a rearwardly extending web portion, and a longitudinally extending groove provided on the under side of said web portion to furnish an area of reduced thickness for the sewing of the strip to the flexible case section material, said groove having a depth which is not exceeded by burrs raised on the underside of said strip in sewing the metal strip to the flexible case section material.

2. A valance for a luggage case formed of opposed case sections of flexible, sewable material, said valance comprising a metal strip having a front portion adapted for engagement with the front portion of a second metal strip and a rearwardlyextending web portion, a longitudinally extending groove provided on the underside of said web portion to furnish an area of reduced thickenss for the sewing of the strip to the ilexible case section material, said groove having a depth which is not exceeded by burrs raised on the underside of said strip in sewing the metal strip to the llexible case section material, and a recess on the upper side of the web portion, said recess having a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the flexible case section material which it is adapted to receive.

3. A luggage case comprising opposed case sections of iiexible, sewable material, a metal strip extending along the peripheral edge of each case section, each of said metal strips having a front portion adapted for engagement with the front portion of the other strip and a rearwardly extending web portion, a longitudinally extending groove on the underside of the web portion providing an area of reduced thickness, and a line of stitching extending through the flexible case section material and said area of reduced thickness, the groove having a depth which is not exceeded by burrs raised on the underside of said strip insewing the metal strip to the exible case section material.

4. A luggage case comprising opposed case sections of llexible, sewable material, a metal strip extending along they peripheral edge of each case section, each of said metal strips having a front portion adapted for engagement with the front portion of the other strip and a rearwardly extending web portion, a longitudinally extending groove on the underside of the web portion providing an area of reduced thickness, a line of stitching extending through the exible case section material and said area of reduced thickness, the groove having a depth which is not exceeded by burrs raised on the underside of said .strip in sewing the metal strip to the flexible case section material, and a recess on the upper side of the web portion having the edge of the flexible case section material positioned therein, said recess having a depth substantially equal to the ilexible case section material.

5. A luggage case comprising opposed case sections of llexible, sewable material, a metal strip extending along the peripheral edge of each case section, each of said metall strips having a front portion adapted for engagement with the front portion of the other strip and a rearwardly extending web portion, a longitudinally extending groove on the underside of the web portion providing an area of reduced thickness, a 'line of stitching extending through the flexible. case section material and said area of reduced thickness, the groove having a depth Which is not exceeded by burrs raised on the underside of said strip in sewing the metal strip to the exible case section material, a lining extending over the web portion and covering the line of stitching in the groove, and a recess on the upper side of the web portion having the edge of the flexible case section material positioned therein, said recess having a depth substantially equal to the flexible case section material.

References Cited 'in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,782,889 Eber Feb. 26, 1957 2,829,745 Heitler Apr. 8, 1958 3,052,333 Ikelheimer Sept. 4, 1962 

1. A VALANCE FOR A LUGGAGE CASE FORMED OF OPPOSED CASE SECTIONS OF FLEXIBLE, SEWABLE MATERIAL, SAID VALANCE COMPRISING A METAL STRIP HAVING A FRONT PORTION ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FRONT PORTION OF A SECOND METAL STRIP AND A REARWARDLY EXTENDING WEB PORTION, AND A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVE PROVIDED ON THE UNDER SIDE OF SAID WEB PORTION TO FURNISH AN AREA OF REDUCED THICKNESS FOR THE SEWING OF THE STRIP TO THE FLEXIBLE CASE SECTION MATERIAL, SAID GROOVE HAVING A DEPTH WHICH IS NOT EXCEEDED BY BURRS RAISED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID STRIP IN SEWING THE METAL STRIP TO THE FLEXIBLE CASE SECTION MATERIAL. 